Previous conflicting diffraction studies on dye altered cellulose have supported
two opposing bonding schemes within a glucan minisheet: van der Waals forces and
hydrogen bonds. Past molecular mechanics energy analysis has been used as
evidence to support the van der Waals forces model. Additional evidence from
electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction is presented here. Theoretical
extrapolation supports a 3-ply sheet construction of glucan dye sheets. A 9.4 A
reflection previously reported for glucan dye sheets as evidence for a cellulose
I dye complex has been re-interpreted as a cellulose II-Tinopal composite
structure where the dye molecules are intercalated between folded glucan chains.
Glucan dye sheets and the cellulose II-Tinopal composite are thought to have
arisen from glucan chains associated by van der Waals forces.